Abstract:
Variability, correlation and path coefficients for twelve morphological characters were studied on 18
morphologically distinct mutants in M4 generation along with their two mother genotypes (IET 14142
and IET 14143), which were developed from Tulaipanja, an aromatic non-basmati rice cultivar of West
Bengal. Genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation were high for flag leaf angle and panicle
number; moderate for grain number per panicle, straw weight, harvest index and grain yield per plant;
and low for days to flower, plant height, panicle length, spikelet number, spikelet fertility (%) and test
weight. High heritability accompanied by high to moderate genetic advance for flag leaf angle, panicle
number, grain number, straw weight and grain yield indicated the predominance of additive gene ac
tion for the expression of these characters. Grain yield was found to be positively and significantly cor
related with plant height, panicle number per plant, straw weight and harvest index at both genotypic
and phenotypic levels indicating the importance of these characters for yield improvement in this popu
lation. The results of genotypic path analysis revealed that panicle number had the highest positive di
rect effect followed by grain number, test weight, plant height, days to flower and straw weight. The
overall results indicated that selection favouring higher panicle number per plant, test weight and straw
weight and medium plant height with a reasonable balance for moderate grain number would help to
achieve higher grain yield in this population of aromatic rice.
